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When planning for IT disaster recovery and future operational continuity, being resilient is key. But so is time.

After a disaster, it’s the organization that deals with the time between disaster and recovery that succeeds. A resilient organization is more about fast execution of the plan, than about the plan itself.

The Denver Broncos are no exception. As Draft Day approaches, the Broncos are focused on the future—and on operational resilience.

"Absolutely I am [hungrier than ever]. That's what I want to do [win the title]. That's what the Denver Broncos want to do," Peyton Manning said. "I am glad to be part of a team that wants that, I need to do my part. That's what I think about every day I go to work: doing my job to help the Denver Broncos get better."

When an organization deals with an IT disaster—or just a setback—there are similar lessons to be learned. Here are three...

1. When Things Go Wrong, Don’t Blame! Instead, Focus On Improvement

“In the past we’ve been restricted in our data management with downtime,” says Chris Newman, IT architect for the Denver Broncos. “We now manage our data far more intelligently.”

In a previous article, I spoke of the immortal enterprise—being prepared to keep your network up and running—not only during a disaster, but also minimizing planned downtime. Planned downtime is something like stopping a football game to go back and practice.

The Broncos IT staff can now make extensive changes to their environment without disrupting critical, day-to-day Broncos operations.

“We can simply do things better and faster, with no impact to the Broncos staff in costly downtime,” notes Newman. “Whether our accounting team is managing financial data or Broncos players are viewing videos in our training facility on their iPads, they can keep doing what they’re doing.”

The Broncos IT team also wanted to upgrade their backup and restore, to provide ample room to grow for years into the future.

“We’re a relatively small shop with enterprise needs,” says Russ Trainor, Denver Broncos’ VP of IT. “We run opposing-team videos at Dove Valley, deliver digital playbooks via Apple iPads, and support a sizable game-day staff at the stadium. Our IT and storage demands are continually growing.”

2. Look For Culture And Trust

For the IT team, their version of Draft Day is picking out the vendors and partners to rely on to keep the organization running—and ready in case of disaster or disruption.

When you bring in a vendor or a service provider, you’re making them a part of the team. They have to fit your culture and you need to be able to trust them. (The Broncos went with PEAK Resources, deploying NetApp storage systems in both facilities.)

The platform stores more than 50 terabytes of data and can scale up to 20 times that. “The system offers us the manageability we need today, plus support into the future as our needs change,” says Newman.

3. Be Resilient

The backup and recovery solution now has 90 days of local backups and remote data that replicates—in real time—between the stadium and training facility 20 miles away.

“We no longer have to call the off-site tape storage company and spend valuable time and money waiting to recover lost data,” says Trainor. “We just log into the management console and in minutes can retrieve the requested files...which helps us better serve the Broncos staff.”

With a comprehensive, reliable business continuity plan, the Broncos can protect vital training, medical staff, video team, media relations, advertising, financial, and other operations. They also secure critical, confidential data such as player medical records, playbooks, staff salaries, and corporate e-mails related to trade negotiations. ... The IT staff has a clear understanding of their vital impact on operational efficiency and, most important, Broncos team success.

The Bottom Line

“We’re early adopters of new technology, but also effective at leveraging proven technologies,” says Trainor. “The entire Broncos organization can better support the Broncos team in taking on the opposition, while we attract and retain fans for years to come.”